My vert LukeBox install

[treff-7]

I got my lukebox a few months back and i've been dreaming about installing it but was way too busy to actually get to it.

Today I decided to just start working on it and eventually I will see the light at the end of the tunnel. Well... The take off wasn't the most successful moments of my life. I think I owe the PO a well defined F**K U!

[Cabriolet]

omg that sucks soooo bad.

you could weld in cage style supports in there and then just leave the bulkhead open.

but $10 says the PO was drug running

[treff-7]

The problem is that the passenger side of this is supposed to be sealed off completely with 2 opening only for the tubes. The trunk side could stay open i just need to figure out a way to secure the box.

I pulled out some power wires that were used for some sort of amp that was removed before I bought the car so I HOPE it was just for letting more bass in the cabin. But man! This thing way butchered! I should have looked for another car cuz it had soooooo many things broken but I kinda felt sorry for it and took it as a challenge. Now 6 years later when almost all the kinks are fixed it still gives me a good deal of headache... :(

[Justin B]

Wow wtf?!

[Cabriolet]

hrm. i just finished mine. maybe luke can chime in and tell us if the tubes are a must or is a big fat hole better. bc i was thinking a big fat tubular X welded in might be pretty awesome.

mine:

[Justin B]

Tubes are a must. It is a 4th order bandpass design. Gotta get that front end sealed up somehow, and get the port tubes in there. While you're at it you could run a couple of straps up vertically on the more rearward wall (but forward of the original wall so it can still suck in and seal). You need no to achieve no air gap around the box into the chamber behind the seat. You may need to build up some of that wall that goes against the box to do that. That air space is technically part of the box.

[MoreMayhem]

At least the chamber of horrors will be easy to clean & line with sound deadening material! It took a couple weeks for all the cuts on my hands and arms to heal.

But damn, that sucks. Have you ever driven any other cabrio E30s? Did yours feel different? More noisy?

[treff-7]

hrm. i just finished mine. maybe luke can chime in and tell us if the tubes are a must or is a big fat hole better. bc i was thinking a big fat tubular X welded in might be pretty awesome.

mine:

The tubes have to be there. basically that chamber is an extension of the box. iI it's not sealed it won't work correctly.

Tubes are a must. It is a 4th order bandpass design. Gotta get that front end sealed up somehow, and get the port tubes in there. While you're at it you could run a couple of straps up vertically on the more rearward wall (but forward of the original wall so it can still suck in and seal). You need no to achieve no air gap around the box into the chamber behind the seat. You may need to build up some of that wall that goes against the box to do that. That air space is technically part of the box.

Most likely I will do a test fit before I fix the wall and see if it seals right. If it doesn't I'll come up with something but I'm not really worried about that part at this point.

At least the chamber of horrors will be easy to clean & line with sound deadening material! It took a couple weeks for all the cuts on my hands and arms to heal.

But damn, that sucks. Have you ever driven any other cabrio E30s? Did yours feel different? More noisy?

Yeah! That's the only good part about this though... I need to find that panel somewhere. There's no working around this thing. It has to be fixed.

I've never been in another convertible period. And only in 2 other e30's in my life. First one was about 20 years ago in Germany. Brand new black 4 door late model. I was a kid but I loved it! That I remember clear as day! Second time was 7 years ago in my friend's silver coupe. I wanted to have an e30 before but after that I HAD to have one! :D

[treff-7]

hrm. i just finished mine. maybe luke can chime in and tell us if the tubes are a must or is a big fat hole better. bc i was thinking a big fat tubular X welded in might be pretty awesome.

mine:

How does it sound BTW?

Can you access the spare wheel?

[AlpineM325]

damn that sucks......... I will take the box off your hands if it comes to that. haha

[treff-7]

damn that sucks......... I will take the box off your hands if it comes to that. haha

Ha! :tsk: I'm not giving up that easy! One way or the other that box will be installed! ......one day................

[MoreMayhem]

I would think the path of least resistance would be to cut the panels from a pick a part car. Get a cordless reciprocating saw and a few bi-metal saw blades to cut it out, or see if someone on this forum who is parting a cabrio would cut panels ad sell them to you. A skilled welder could trim them to fit ad weld them in. You could even cut the port holes before welding them in.
I think the quality of the improved audio would be worth the effort.

[treff-7]

I would think the path of least resistance would be to cut the panels from a pick a part car. Get a cordless reciprocating saw and a few bi-metal saw blades to cut it out, or see if someone on this forum who is parting a cabrio would cut panels ad sell them to you. A skilled welder could trim them to fit ad weld them in. You could even cut the port holes before welding them in.
I think the quality of the improved audio would be worth the effort.

That's exactly my plan. Asked if someone has one in the first post and asked in the california regional section if someone saw one somewhere in a junkyard.
It's spot welded in all around and has a few inch-long welds on the bottom so it's not that hard to remove and I can weld it in no problem. Just need to find one. There are less and less e30's in junkyards... a few years ago they had a bunch. :(

[Cabriolet]

How does it sound BTW?

Can you access the spare wheel?

sounds great, and i really really doubt i can get to my spare w/o removing it's tiedown

[treff-7]

So I had some time to work on this. Managed to find a convertible and cut out the piece that was missing from mine. I have pictures that i will upload soon.

I have a question though! The wall that separates the trunk and this compartment is also missing which means that if i install the lukebox that will close the hole and the sound waves will hit the front of it which is covered with foam. Will that change the way it will sound???